Executive Orders Betray Foundation of America

Refugee and immigrant leaders and allies fixed to defend each other against fear-filled Trump Administration

(CHICAGO, IL — January 27, 2017) Today, President Trump signed an anticipated executive order continuing his assault on immigrants and refugees. The order includes a ban on repatriating refugees from Syria into the US, and a suspension of refugee resettlement from around the world.

“Today we stand with our Syrian brothers and sisters, the Muslim community and all those refugees and immigrants who are being used as scapegoats by the current administration,” Lawrence Benito, chief executive officer of Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights said. “We will push back against this and other executive orders and will not give into the rhetoric of a fear and nationalism. Our communities are strong, diverse and resilient. We are here to support each other and we are here to stay.”

Community groups from Syria and other predominantly Muslim countries and supporting allies have already organized behind a Platform for Resistance, Unity and Respect and are poised to continue fighting for basic human rights and dignity, and to live in the United States, a country of immigrants and refugees, founded on values of religious freedom.

The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights is a statewide coalition of more than 130 organizations dedicated to promoting the rights of immigrants and refugees to full and equal participation in the civic, cultural, social, and political life of our diverse society. For more information, visit www.icirr.org.

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ICIRR is dedicated to promoting the rights of immigrants and refugees to full and equal participation in the civic, cultural, social, and political life of our diverse society.